THE GLORIOUS CHURCH

Introduction

            Modern secular man pays little attention to the church. Following the steps of the Roman Church many religious people pay it a wrong kind of attention. In the Bible, the "church" is simply God's people -- from Pentecost till the end of the world. It is not an institution or organization separate and apart from the people.

            Ephesians talks more than once about the church, the people of God. In a familiar passage (5:22-27), Paul makes a passing reference to the church, while urging husbands and wives to proper behavior toward each other. In this statement we find the expression "the glorious church." While Paul is here speaking of the church (God's people) as it will be when Jesus takes it to Himself at the end, there are also now many glorious aspects of the church as well. This lesson deals with some of them, particularly as mentioned in Ephesians. For a study of this passage in context, see Expository Outlines on Ephesians, by this author.

I. The church has a glorious origin.

            Ephesians 1:13, 14. The church is created when people hear the gospel, trust in Jesus, then are sealed by the Holy Spirit for redemption when Jesus returns (see also Acts 2:38; 5:32).

            Ephesians 2:4-9. This was possible because while we were dead in sin, God was merciful and Jesus died for our sins. Our existence is grounded in grace and is a fact only through faith. There is no room for human boasting, though good works are the proper response to what God has done.

            Ephesians 4:32. God, for Christ's sake (KJV), in Christ (ASV) forgave us. This was the glorious basis on which the church is called together.

            Ephesians 5:25, 26. Christ loved the church (all who would be His people), gave Himself for it (them), sanctifies and cleanses it (them) with the washing of water by the word (confession of faith and baptism). What a glorious origin!

II. The church has a glorious relationship.

            Ephesians 1:3-10. In union with Christ, so that He represents us, we (the saved, the church) share all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. We are beneficiaries of God's eternal planning, recipients of His present blessings, and heirs of all that He will do in the future for good. All this because we are joined to Jesus in faith.

            Ephesians 1:22, 23. Because the church is Christ's body and He is its head, what has happened to Him will happen to it. The head is already glorified in heaven; the body will one day follow!

            Ephesians 5:23, 24. As head of the body, the church, Christ saves and defends it now and in judgment. As His body, the church is obligated to follow Christ's guidance in all things.

III. The church has a glorious mission.

            Ephesians 3:1-11. As the community of God's people, the church is composed of both Jew and Gentile, people of every race, color and fleshly background. This is the fulfillment of God's promises and plan, and His plan was hid from view until after the work of Jesus had made it possible. Now angels see in the conversion and transformation of sinners the "manifold wisdom of God" which even they did not understand before. As those who show forth God's glory, the church indeed has a "glorious" mission!

            Ephesians 3:20, 21. God is the source of power, and He is due all the praise. Because of what God has done, first in Jesus Christ and then in the church, He is due all glory on earth (in the church) and in heaven (where Christ sits in power).

IV. The church has a glorious unity.

            Ephesians 4:1-6. God has blessed His people (the church) with a glorious oneness, and they are to preserve it by proper concern and self-control as they live together. Every Christian shares in great blessings with every other child of God. There is only one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism and God, and all Christians share these in common. This is the oneness or unity God has given His people.

            They are to preserve this oneness, in bonds of peace. They are not told to create it or arrive at it -- it exists already and is a gift of God. They are rather to preserve it in peace, by exerting diligence and care.

            The means of preserving it in peace is the exercise of lowliness and meekness, longsuffering, and forbearing one another in love. When in a local fellowship each Christian will practice these, the oneness God has given will be preserved in peace. This is a glorious oneness indeed!

V. The church has a glorious future.

            Ephesians 1:22, 23. As Christ's body, the church will someday share in the glory that is now His.

            Ephesians 2:7. In the ages to come, God will demonstrate still more of His riches in Christ than we have yet enjoyed.

            Ephesians 4:30. This will be the day of redemption, and for it we are sealed with the Holy Spirit now.

            Ephesians 5:27. When Christ comes again, He will present the church (His people) to Himself, without spot or wrinkle. This is the glorious future for which we wait.

Conclusion

            We must say that we are not all we should be, we are not all we want to be, but by the grace of God we are what we are. And by the same grace of God we anticipate a still more glorious future in Christ. For all that is and will be we give God the glory -- and commit ourselves to serve Him in a way that honors Him each day.